Printing press



July 26, 1932. M. w. BRUESHABER Original Filed Aug. 17, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO-R.

y 1932- M. w. BRuEsHAER 1,863,830

PRINTING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 17, 1.926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I A TTORNE S.

July 26, 1932. M. w. BRUESHABER PRINTING PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 17, 1926 INVE TOR.

July 26, 1932. MW. BRUESHABER 1,868,880

PRINTING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 17, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN W. BRUESHABER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PRINTING PRESS Application filed August 17, 1926, Serial No. 129,689. Renewed June '11, 1931.

The invention relates to rotary printing presses, and more particularly to novel and useful web printing and folding mechanisms, and to novel and useful constructions in and arrangements of such mechanisms.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The'accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings Figs. 1 and 2, taken together, constitute aside elevation, with many parts shown diagrammatically, of a press embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan, with parts omitted and others shown diagrammatically corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a figure similar to Fig. 3, but showing certain arrangements of the turner bars and folders for certain web runs;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation, with parts shown diagrammatically, looking at Figs. 1 and 3 from the left;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail of a hand mechanism for moving a folder along the press;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional View of a motor and drive for moving the folder along the press;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of the disconnectible drive from a press unit to the travelable folder; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of the connection between the press unit drive and folder drive.

The invention is directed to improvements in the combined and cooperating printing and folding mechanisms and instrumentalities of fast rotary printing presses, and one of the main objects realized by my invention is a practically unlimited adaptation and flexibility in the relation and cooperation of the printing units and folding units of such presses, through rendering the folding mechanism freely mobile relatively to the printing units.

The requirements as to size and arrangement of modern newspapers, and the required sudden changes or transitions in both size and arrangement of such papers, demands that with the present practice in construction and operation, a. very large press capacity be maintained. As a consequence, a relatively high proportion of printing units in different presses are frequently idle, and a relatively large number of presses are necessary to produce a given output as to size and sequence. The changes and rearrangements in the presses necessary for changes in the size and sequence of the paper are laborious and timeconsuming, and are frequently made under imperative pressure of time.

By my present invention I effect a practically unlimited mobility of positional cooperation between one or more folder units and any desired number of printing units within the required capacity for even the largest metropolitan publications. In other words, as a part of the mechanical facilities of my press, a series of printing units, each prefer ably capacitated to perfect a wide web, is provided with a plurality of folding mechanisms, each preferably comprising a plurality of side-by-side formers and one or more cross folders, these folding units being readily movable from one operating position to another along the series of printing units, and having driving connections for each of these various folding positions.

My invention provides in connection with the capabilities and instrumentalities already indicated the capability of reversing the longitudinal formers relatively to the press, thereby affording an additional means for varying the manner of association, and the relative position or sequence of the sheets in the finished product.

My invention provides means and instrumentalities for perfecting and folding products as small as two or four pages, and increasing by two page increments to an eighty page folded product, or even a larger product, dependent upon the number of printing units associated with a particular folder, afiording at the same time the widest variety of arrangement or association sequence of the webs and pages from. the various presses.

By reason of the practically complete mobility of the folding units relatively to the printing units, the folder can be located and operated at the center of the printing units for any size of completed product, and is in like position with respect to all the pairs of web preferably coming from either side to the folder, that is, each and every pair of webs has the same length from the printing cylinder to the roller at the top of the former.

The preferred embodiment of my invention, broadly considered primarily, comprises a series of printing units in a single straight line and preferably horizontally disposed, with a source of paper supply for each of the units, each unit comprising two printing couples adapted to perfect the web, although the constitution of the printing units may be varied so far as concerns many features of my invention.

The cooperative folding mechanism comprises one or more folding units, movable parallel with the line of printing units, and positionable selectively at each printing unit, and preferably having its driving means connectible to the driving means of such nearest printing unit, so that the folding mechanism will run in synchronism with the printing mechanisms.

In such preferred form the folding mechanism may be moved independently along a track arranged above and along the line of printing units. Each folding unit preferably comprises four approximately side-byside formers with two cooperating cross folders.

The folding units may be faced either way on the track so as to present the formers in either direction with reference to the line of printing units, and the driving connections are constructed so that the folder may be driv en from any printing unit irrespective of the direction in which the former is facing.

The preceding general description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, and the following detailed description thereof, it will be understood are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the press is provided with a frame comprising a bed having longitudinally-extending side members 1 and 2 with cross braces 3 extending therebetween, this bed resting usually upon the floor 4t. Set upon the bed are a plurality of printing units 7, spaced apart from each other along the frame so as to permit access between the units for the pressman, in changing the plates, attending to the inking mechanism, and for any other purpose.

The printing units shown in the present embodiment are of the type usually termed the unit press, and comprise side frames 8 and 9 extending upwardly from the side reaches 1 and 2 of the bed, and having respectively substantially horizontally disposed integral top reaches 10 and 11. These units comprise preferably two printing couples, one having a plate cylinder 12 and impres sion cylinder 13, and the other-having a plate cylinder 14 and an impression cylinder 15, although multi-color units could be employed if desired. Each of the plate cylinders is provided with a suitable inking mechanism 16, which is shown diagrammatically in connection with one or two of the units.

Any suitable form of driving means for the printing cylinders and for their inking mechanisms may be provided, and in certain features thereof I prefer to employ the present commercial drive for presses of this type manufactured by the Gross Printing Press Company. Such driving mechanism as partially shown in the drawings comprises a general driving shaft 25, extending along outside the bed plate of the machine at one side thereof, and journaled in bearings 26 at various places along the frame, this shaft being driven in any suitable manner.

At each of the printing units, there is fixed on shaft 25 a beveled gear 27 and meshing therewith is a bevel gear 28, fixed on a vertically-extending shaft 29, journaled in bearings 30 and 31 upon the upwardly-extending parts of the machine frame. The printing unit is driven from a bevel gear 34 fixed on shaft 29, the remainder of the driving connections being omitted from the present drawings for the sake of elearness. In my present invention each of the shafts 29 has fixed to the upper end thereof a coupling plate 35. which constitutes a driving connection for the driving mechanism of the folding unit whenever it is located above the particular printing unit.

Any suitable or desired form of web supply may be provided for the printing units in so far as concerns the present invention,

and there is illustrated in the drawings a form of web supply in common use with presses of this type. As shown. carriers 4-5 for three supply roll spindles 46, 47 and 48.

are journaled at 4-9 in side frame members 50. the paper supply mechanism being lo cated in a room or space 54 directly below the press and extending usually the entire length of the press. The frame members 50 are connected to two series of upright pillars 51 and 52, which support longitudinally-extending channel beams and 56, upon which rest respectively the side members of the press base frame. Carrier 45 carries three paper supply rolls a, b and 0 and an exhausted supply roll is replaced by the roll d. The web to is led from the operating supply roll about a plurality of guide rollers 59 to the printing couples of the printing unit, and after being perfected or otherwise printed upon is directed by suitable means, later to be described, to one of the folding units.

In the embodied form of means for effecting complete mobility of the folding unit or units, there is provided a trackway above and along the horizontal series of printing units, upon which trackway the folding units are movable to and fro into a plurality of folding positions and relations relatively to the printing unit. ,As embodied, the trackway comprises two horizontally-extending, parallelly-arrangcd supporting and guiding track members and 66, integral with or supported by upwardly-extending supporting frame members 67 and 68, extending upwardly from the side frames of each of the printing units. These trackways are preferably formed with a horizontal bearing surface 70, having a horizontally-disposed groove 71 extending longitudinally and centrally thereof.

The traveling folding units in the embodied form comprise a frame structure, having at either side horizontally-disposed frame members 75 and 76, running upon the track ways in the horizontal top reaches of the press frame already described. These horizontally-disposed members of the folder frame have their under surfaces machined to fit upon the running surfaces 70 of the press frame guiding track, and are provided centrally and longitudinally thereof with downwardly-extending tongues 77, whichfit and slide within the corresponding groove 71 of the press frame track. Thefolder frame is thus held in exact transverse alinement with respect to the press frame and printing units, and is free to move the entire length of the press. In a long press, however, two or more folding units will be employed.

The mobile and variably-positionable folding mechanism may be of any suitable construction and be provided with any folding facilities desired, in so far as concerns many features of the invention. In thepreferred form thereof, however, there are provided four formers 80, 81, 82 and 83, disposed transversely side-by-side, at the same or different levels as may be found desirable or convenient. As shown in the drawings the two outer formers are arranged at either side, and outside the width of the press and folder frame, and are also shown at a somewhat higher level than the two formers within the frame.

The folding units comprise side frames 87 and 88, integral with and extending upwardly from the base frame members and 76, and these are connected together by top and bottom cross frame members 89 and 90. The vertical frame members 87 and 88 support horizontally-disposed, outwardly-extending frame members 93 and 9 1 having supporting stays or brackets 95 and 96, these extensions of the frame constituting the mountings and supports for the external formers and 83.

Mounted in the folding unit and cooperating with the formers are one or more crossfolding mechanisms, and they are shown herein as two cross folders, of usual form, located respectively beneath the two inner formers 81 and 82. These mechanisms comprise each a folding cylinder 97, a cooperating cutting cylinder 98 and folding rollers 99. The respective formers are provided with sets of former rollers 100, and a plurality of guiding rollers 101 are provided for the longitudinally-folded webs. The greater portion of the mechanism just described is old and standard construction and is shown herein diagrammatically for the sake of clearness, as it will usually be of the standard form, although it can be varied therefrom as desired. There will also be suitable frame extensions to support the forming and guiding rollers described, or such others as may be used, and which are shown merely diagrammatically in the drawings.

The driving mechanism for the former rollers,.the guide rollers, and the cross folder mechanism may be of any known or suitable form for mechanisms of this kind in so far as the usual features thereof are concerned, the only novel feature thereof in the present invention being the connections between the usual folder drive and the press drive whereby the folder can be driven from any selected one of the press units above or adjacent to which it may be positioned for receiving and folding a product of any given or desired size and characteristics.

The usual folder drive mechanism as shown comprises a bevel gear 111 fixed on a shaft, not shown, journaled in the folder frame, and connecting to the usual driving mechanism for all parts of the folder. Bevel gear 111 meshes with a bevel gear 112, fixed on a vertically-disposed shaft 113,. journaled at 114 and 115 on the folder unit frame, and held in longitudinal position by a collar 116. The shaft 113 at its bottom end has fixed thereto a disc 117, adapted to be connected to the connecting plates 35 of any one of the printing units.

These plates are connected together so that the folding unit maybe driven from the press unit by the coupling means. As embodied coupling disc 35 is fxed on the head of the driving shaft 29 of the printing unit by a clamping bolt 118. Coupling disc 117 is fixed on shaft 113 of the driving mechanism for the folding unit by clamping bolt 119, the disc being movable longitudinally of the shaft to insure contact of the two discs. The discs are fastened together in any suitable manner as by bolts 118.

Means are provided for progressing the folding unit along its trackway along the series of press units either manually or by power. In Figs. 1 and 6 the manually-operated means are shown and in Fig. 7 the present preferred form of power-operated means. In either means there is fixed to the inner face of the respective printing frame tracks and 66 a horizontally-disposed geared rack bar 120, fixed to the corresponding frame member by tap bolts 121.

Meshing with each of the geared rack bars 120 is a pinion 122, these pinions being fixed on a transversely-disposed shaft 123, journaled at either side in the horizontally-disposed bottom reaches 75 and 76 of the folder units. In Fig. 6 a wheel 124 is shown fixed to the outwardly-extending end 135 of the shaft 123, the wheel 124 being provided with radially-disposed holes 136 to receive a hand turning bar.

In the power drive of Fig. 7 there is fixed to the external end of shaft 123, a sprocket wheel 134, over which runs a sprocket chain 125, which chain runs also a sprocket pinion 126, fixed on the shaft of a motor 127. Motor 127 is fixed on a platform bracket 128, having a vertical face 129 bolted to the side frame 88 of the folding unit. Thus the folding unit may be readily traveled from one desired or selected position to another along the press frame and into proper and central relation with respect to any number of printing units to produce a printed product of any desired size, and having any desired characteristics, within the limits of the press and folder.

Means are provided for directing the web from the printing units to the folder, and as embodied, these means comprise a plurality of guide rollers 137, extending across the press, and journaled in the top horizontal reaches 65 and 66 of the press frame. There are also a plurality of guide rollers 138, extending across the folder unit, and journaled one above another in an extension 139 of the folder unit frame. Corresponding guide rollers may be located on the exterior of, and extending outwardly from the folder frame, to lead certain of the webs to the outside formers. There are preferably quite a number of these guide rollers so that a desired maximum of webs from the press may be directed from a large number of the printing units to the folding mechanism, and to any one of the formers.

Means are also provided for transversely directing, and for turning the webs and direoting them, to the outer formers 80 and 83. As embodied these m ans comprise turner bars 143 located Within the horizontally-disposed press frame members 65 and 66, and also turner bars 144 located externally of the press frame members, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that all these turner bars are reversible in direction as may be found necessary or desirable in operating the press for different products, and they will be reversed to correspond to a change in the direction in which the formers may face. For this purpose, the folding bars will have a suitable reversible mounting, which may be of known or any other suitable form. Suitable guide rollers for vertically directing the webs are also provided externally of the press frame, and between the external turner bars and the head rolls of the external formers. These guide rollers are indicated at 145 in Fig. 3, and will be journaled in suitable extensions of the press frame, which may be of any usual form, and are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. In accordance with certain features of the invention the formers are faced either way by lifting the entire folding unit from the tracks on the top press frame members 65 and 66, and while so suspended giving the folding mechanism a half turn and then bringing it to rest upon the track. In Fig. 1 the folder is shown in full lines in position A and in outline only in the reverse position B, after it has been lifted, given a half turn, and then reset on the tracks.

When the folding unit is intended to be reversed, the driving connections from the press are designed so as to drive the folder in the right direction with respect to the press Whichever way it may face. For this purpose a set of special vertical driving shafts 149 for driving the folder only may be provided on the opposite side of the press, or a directionreversing connection may be made with any one of the shafts 29.

If desired. as another form of driving connection for the reversed folder, there may be another bevel gear 111 on the opposite end of the folder drive shaft. This bevel gear 111 meshes with a bevel gear 112 corresponding to the bevel gear 112 on the opposite side of the folder and previously described.

Bevel gear 112 is fixed on a short vertical shaft 151, journaled in a bearing 152 fixed on the folder frame, a collar 153 being fixed on the shaft and bearing on the upper face of the journal 152 to hold the shaft in position.

Fixed also on shaft 151 is a gear wheel 154, which meshes with a gear wheel 155, fixed on a short vertical shaft 156. Shaft 156 is j ournaled in bearing 152 and a collar 157 is fixed on the shaft and bears on the top of journal 152 to hold the shaft in position. Connecting disc 117 on this side of the folder is fixed to shaft 156 as disc 117 on the opposite side of the folder is fixed on shaft 113, and cooperates with disc 35 in the'same manner, as already described.

The turner bars are shown in the drawings mounted on and along the upper press frame at proper and convenient points for the different positions of the folder unit or units in relation to the various printing units. Turner bars may also be mounted, additionally or alternatively, in the lower part of the folder mechanism so as to effect any desired associations and turnings of the webs. These turner bars will be reversibly mounted, whether they be carried on the press frame or on the folder frame, and the reversible mounting may be of any known or suitable form. A reversible mounting of well known form is shown at 173.

Slitter mechanisms 160 will be mounted, in the usual manner wherever necessary or convenient, to slit the full width webs into halves preparatory to turning or to running directly into the formers.

The delivery of the finished product from the cross folders may be by any suitable a, means, and in the drawings a well-known standard type is shown diagrammatically at 170 and 171, although any known or suitable delivery may be employed.

From all the foregoing it will be understood that a mechanism has been provided constituting an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and realizing the objects and advantages herein set forth, together with other objects and advantages. It will be understood further that departures may be madev from the exact mechanism as shown and described, within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A web printing press including in combination a plurality of printing couples, a folder, and means for moving the folder relatively to the printing couples to bring it into various folding relations to the printing couples, said folder being positionally reversible relatively to the printing couples.

2. A web printing press including in combination a plurality of rotary printing couples, a folding mechanism including a longitudinal folder and a cooperating cross folder, and means for moving them together into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said folder being positionally reversible relatively to the printing couples.

3. A web printing press including in combination a plurality of rotary printing couples, a folder, means for moving the folder relatively to the printing couples to bring it into various folding relations to the printing couples, said folder being positionally reversible relatively to the printing couples,

web guiding and reversing means between the printing couples and folder and means for reversing the direction of the web guid-- ing and reversing means when the folder is in its reversed position.

4. A web printing press including in combination a plurality of rotary printing couples, driving means therefor, a folder movable into a plurality of folding positions relatively to the printing couples, said folder being positionally reversible relatively tothe printing couples, and driving means on the folder connectible to the press driving means in any of said positions.

5. A web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, a former movable into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said former being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples.

6. A web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, a formor movable into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said former being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples, and means for driving the former mechanism in the various positions.

7. A web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, a former movable into a plurality of folding re lations relatively to the printing couples, said former being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples, and means for driving the former mechanism from the press in the various positions.

8. A web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, a folding mechanism including a former and cross folder and movable into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said folding mechanism-being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples, and means for driving the folding mechanism in the various positions;

9. A web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, a foldingmechanism including a former and cross folder and movable into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said folding mechanism being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples, and means for driving the folding mechanism from the press in the various positions.

10. A web printing press including in combination a horizontal series of printing couples, a folder, means for moving the folder horizontally along the series of printing couples into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said folder being positionally reversible relatively to the printing couples, web guiding and reversing means between the printing couples and'the folder, and means for reversing the direction in which the web is guided when the folder is in its reversed position.

11. A Web printing press including in coinbination a horizontal series of printing couples, a folder, means for moving the folder printing couples, and positionally reversible turner bars associated with the printing couples for reversing the direction of the web when the folder is in its reversed position.

12. A Web printing press including in combination a series of printing couples, and a former movable into a plurality of folding relations relatively to the printing couples, said former being positionally reversible relatively to the series of printing couples, and means for moving the former relatively to the printing couples in either direction to bring it into various folding relations to the printing couples.

13. A web printing press including in combination a horizontal series of rotary printing units, a trackway extending along and above said series, a positionably reversible folding mechanism movable along the track- Way, a common driving means for the printing units, a vertical drive shaft for each printing unit, a drive shaft for the folding mechanlsm and means for coupling the drive shaft for the folding mechanism with the drive shaft of any one of several of the printing units.

14. A web printing press including in combination a series of rotary printing units, a trackway extending along said series, a positionably reversible folding mechanism movable along the trackvvay, a common driving means for the printing units, a drive shaft for each printing unit, a drive shaft for the foldin mechanism and means for coupling the drive shaft for the folding mechanism with the drive shaft of any one of several of the printing units.

15. In a Web printing press the combination of a series of rotary printing units mounted in a press frame, a folding mechanism reversibly positionable and movable along said printing units and reversible turner bars mounted on the press frame for guiding certain of the printed webs to the folding mechanism.

16. In a web printing press the combination of a series of rotary printing units mounted in a press frame, a folding mechanism movable along said printing units including a former overhanging the side of the press and turner bars mounted on said press frame for directing a printed w b from the side of the press to the former.

17. In a Web printing press, the combination of a series of rotary printing units mounted in a press frame, a folding mechanism movable along said printing units and including a former overhanging each side of the press frame, and turner bars mounted on each side of the press frame for directing printed webs from the sides of the press to the formers.

18. In a web printing press the combination of a series of rotary printing units mounted in a press frame, a folding mechanism movable along said printing units and including a former overhanging each side of the press frame, formers directly over the printing units, and folding cylinders for collecting the printed and folded Webs, and turner bars mounted on each side of the press frame for directing printed webs from the sides of the press to the formers.

19. A folding mechanism for use with rotary web printing presses including in combination a plurality of cross folders, a plurality of formers for each cross folder, said formers being positioned side-by-side with the outer formers spaced from the inner formers.

20. A folding mechanism for use with rotary web printing presses including in combination a plurality of cross folders, a plurality of formers for each cross folder, said formers being positioned side by side with the outer formers raised slightly above the level of the others.

21. A folding mechanism for use with rotary web printing presses including in combination a plurality of cross folders, a plurality of formers for each cross folder, said formers being positioned side-by-side with the outer formers overhanging the sides of the press and means for directing printed webs to the formers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MARTIN W. BRUESHABER. 

